Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-05-11
A COUNTS CAREER.

A CUUNI ) CAREER.
Remarkable Adventures ola Pole Who
Escaped from Siberia.
From the Denver News.
'HThere is 8 man with g. history"
said an acquaintance to a reporter
yesterday afternoon.
The man referred to was sitting In g.
beer hall with several ccngenial COM
panions ARGUED q table on which
stood mugs OF beer, plate of caviare
sandwiches, g. pot Of mustard, etc.
81 know him we'll I will introduce
you" and the reporter was presented
to Mr.. Ladinski, q Pole, and to
his companions, three Russians.
Ladinski and his companions seemed
to be on the best of terms. They
were speaking French when the re-
porter loined them, but Immediately
changed to English, which all spoke
huently, Ladinski not having the
slightest foreign accent.
In the course of the conversation
that eusued Mr.. Ladinski good hui
moredly answered interrogations,
CT his adventures, which in nara
GlAC 10TH 1EG AUOuU DIS IOIlOWSs
John, Count Ladinski, was born in
Warsaw, Poland, in 1880. When
years old he saw his mother knouted
for refusing to tell Of her husbands
whereabouts. Six months after that
his father was captured and shot by
order of the czar. Shortly after that
his mother disappeared, and to this
day be does not know what became
xpf her. When years OF age he found
himself homeless and penniless. He
was picked up half starved on the
street by q kind hearted Jew mer-
chant, who adopted and took him to
St. Petersburg. He remained with his
adopted father for seven years, and
was given agood education, the mer-
chant employing tutor for him and
his two sons.
Ladinski was walking along quiet
street one night In St. Petersburg
when about Is years old and came
suddenly on two Russian soldiers who
were beating q Polish Jew peddler be-
cause he had refused to give them
money. The boy became enraged at
the sight and demanded that they
should quit. The soldiers let the ped
der alone, but seized the boy, and
were hustling him off to prison when
he drew q knife, killed one of them,
and dangerously wounded the other.
Realizing what he had done young
Ladinski slowed away on an English
vessel, and was fortunate enough to
escape the country. The captain of
the vessel took a liking to the boy,
and landed him in London with a 95
note and a new suit OF clothes. He
managed to open communication
with his foster-father, who sent a sum
Of money to s. friend OF his to be used
TOR Ladinski, who remained In Lon
don for about q year. Being discov-
cred, however, by one Of the secret
service agents of Russia, he was
obliged to fee to England, and went
to Rio Janeiro, South America. He
secured q position as tutor in the
family OF rich Brazilian and re-
manned three years. His benefactor
took a strong liking to the young man
and secured him a position in the
Brazilian navy.
The man-of-war on which he was
went on a. cruise to Europe. Ladinski
and several of his brother officers
went ashore one night at Naples to
dGGSIu b IndSk0O U6II. 10 OOCdmO
separated from his companions and
started alone for the boat, and while
on his way was knocked down, bound
and gagged, and hurried aboard a
Russian vessel which was in the bay.
He was placed in irons and kept in
prison until St. Petersburg was
reached. There ne was turned over
TO the authorities.
After having spent six months in. q
dungeon, without hearing anything
from the outside world, Mr.. Ladinski
was taken before tribunal, tried for
the murder Of the soldier, and SEN
fenced 90 Siberia for life. He made
the journey to the mines on foot,
with g, number of political prisoners,
and remained IN the mines for five
years.
Mr.. Ladinski seemed averse to
speaking about the hardships he un-
derWent while there, but said that at
the end of the five years he was the
only one lett out of twenty-three who
went in with him.
As he mad behaved himself so as to
win the res pect of the guards and Off
GERS he was removed from the mine
and given a clerkship in a government
warehouse. While there ne conceived
the idea OF forging himself a pardon
from the car, and after a years hard
work, being assisted by daughter of
the post commander, Col. Tourtelof,
he succeeded ID having a. free and un-
conditional pardon handed him, and
at once made preparations to leave.
By some means he was well supplied
with funds by his foster-father.
He made his way back to ST. Peters
burg, and was preparing to leave the
country when he was bounced upon
by Russian spies, thrown into Jail to
remain until an investigation could
be had, which, OF course, resulted in
the daring forgery becoming known.
The car, who evidently had a grim
sense of humor, had the daring young
Pole brought before him, and ques-
toned him about himself. The result
of the interview was that his royal
highness pardoned Ladinski for the
murder, but allowed the law to take
it's course in regard ta the forgery the